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Interrogations Audit Reveals Agency Split
May 22nd 2008 10:15AM
Filed Under:eBush Administration, Democrats, Featured Stories, Terror
An audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigations' participation in terrorist detainee interrogations produced by the Justice Department shows a diverging view of the interrogations between FBI and Central Intelligence Agency interrogators. The 370-page report documents the complaints of agents and concerns of top FBI officials early on in the Administration's interrogation program. Those concerns were made known inside the White House by top Justice Department and FBI officials as the Administration struggled with itself to establish the program's legitimacy, according to the report.The report contains no new information about the interrogations program itself, but it does shed light on the root causes of the interagency battle between the FBI and CIA over interrogations. According to the report, FBI agents present for some early interrogations were understandably concerned with so-called harsh interrogations techniques because of the potential their use had to taint future criminal cases against the detainees; while the CIA was primarily concerned with getting information quickly from high-value detainees about possible future attacks in the wake of September 11th. The friction between the two motivations, preserving criminal cases and extracting actionable intelligence, has never been fully addressed and continues to vex Administration officials as the Bush Administration seeks to shut down the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that the report proved that detainee abuse was widespread.
"Some have suggested that the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody was simply the result of a few bad apples acting on their own. The report released today by the Department of Justice Inspector General is proof that that is simply not true. The IG found that scores of FBI agents observed the use of harsh interrogation techniques in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay."Meanwhile, Administration officials downplayed the report's significance. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman stressed that the report referred to the early days of the interrogation program and that the procedures in use have been modified since then. "There is nothing new here," he said. "The department has been operating for a number of years now with new and improved guidance with respect to detention operations and interrogation procedures." A State Department spokesman was similarly dismissive, saying that the allegation contained in the report were, "pretty vague."
Levin's un-nuanced view of the report displays a lack of critical thinking about the issues surrounding information gathering in the war on terror. While the United States should not torture captives unless it is absolutely necessary to help save a substantial number of lives in the immediate term, it is far from established that stress positions and sleep deprivation constitutes torture. The war on terror is not a law enforcement operation, nor is it a conventional war. The report depicts an Administration and a Federal government struggling in good faith to wrestle the complex issues of detainee treatment and to apply often conflicting legal standards. Levin's complaint does nothing to assist in that struggle, but it does score some cheap political points for his party.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 1)Mark Impomeni1:00PMMay 22nd 2008
tfitz1017,
Did I say that? What I meant was scheming and plotting to subvert the Constitution with evil intent while keeping the people perpetually scared of terrorist designs that don't actually exist and distracted by high gas prices. Better?
If by "coming real soon" you mean when a Democrat holds the White House, then I both agree and disagree. Democrats have done pretty much nothing but investigate the Administration for the two years they have been in control of Congress and have turned up virtually nothing. I don't see how having the White House would change that.
But if a Democrat is elected president, and he or she puts an end to the use of enhanced interrogations and closes Gitmo prematurely, then we will find out more about the interrogations. It will come out in the investigations following the next terrorist attack.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Sincerely,
Mark Impomeni
4mycountry1:11PMMay 22nd 2008
OBAMA SAID: "As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TO WHOM THE AMERICAN FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF OPPRESSION. AND THE ANTHEM
ITSELF CONVEYS A WAR-LIKE MESSAGE. YOU KNOW, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR AND ALL. IT SHOULD BE SWAPPED FOR SOMETHING LESS PAROCHIAL AND LESS BELLICOSE. I LIKE THE SONG, 'I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING’. IF THAT WERE OUR ANTHEM, THEN I MIGHT SALUTE IT."
WE DON’T NEED A PRESIDENT WHO CATERS TO THE “WORLD”. HE AND HIS WIFE DO APPEAR TO BE ANTI-AMERICAN. If he wants to be our president, he needs to take sides. He needs to side with the USA.
WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL PROTECT “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” --- ALL 50 OF THEM!
COUNT THE "PEOPLE'S" VOTES --- NOT THE "DELEGATES". IF THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE'S VOICES, VOTE THEM OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HILLARY 2008.
GODBLESSAMERICA1:15PMMay 22nd 2008
I say do whatever is necessary to protect American citizens.
If a Democrat is elected president, and he or she puts an end to the use of enhanced interrogations and closes Gitmo prematurely, and we have another terrorist attack on our soil --- we need to prosecute our elected officials.
Protect my child --- not a terrorist!
tfitz10172:38PMMay 22nd 2008
Much better! Their scheme backfires though when I'm stuck at home over the long weekend with nothing to do but shore up my conspiracy theories, doesn't it?
Do you think though Mark, that this administration might just be a little corrupt and AG John Edwards might come through with a few somewhat interesting things to investigate? I sure do!
Thanks for your reply and have a great weekend!
summitbay4:18PMMay 22nd 2008
We, patriotic citizens of the United States of America have legitimate reason to take Barrak HUSSEIN Obama off the ballot and kick his ass out of Congress for his illegal association with subversive anti-American radicals, terrorists like Ayers, Farrakhan, Jeremiah, Raczko etc...
USA CONSTITUTION
Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights
3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
rosa7:47PMMay 22nd 2008
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rosa7:47PMMay 22nd 2008
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FREEDOM12:38PMMay 23rd 2008
Hey, Obama.... not so fast boy.... you are looking for a VP? Isnt that a little presumptuous of you? There are 50 states in the union, you just have to wait until all 50 states have voted, the votes counted, the delegates seated, and the nomination made.
IF the DNC anoints Obama as the nominee without the peoples vote, they willl LOSE BIG TIME in November. The voters will not stand for it.
We are voting Hillary or McCain.
No Obama.
John12:45PMMay 23rd 2008
rosa7:47PMMay 22nd 2008
I am Rosa, a beautiful woman from New York.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Rosa,
I am John, a fat, middle-aged, diabetic, bald gay man from Philadelphia. You wouldn't want to see me nake.
John in Philadelphia
OBAMA '08
FREEDOM1:08PMMay 23rd 2008
THE DNC IS SUICIDAL OR DELUSIONAL.
Todays polls show (May 23) that Hillary would BEAT McCain all over. Obama trails behind McCain in most places. Click on this link to see latest polls.
In California Hillary leads as much as 19 points over McCain. In Mississipi McCain BEATS Obama by 15 points. Isnt that supposed to be a southern state with all those black racist voters?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/latestpolls/index.html
Secondly, Hillary received the most votes EVER IN HISTORY of primaries, and the DNC wants to push the best candidate out? For what? For a junior racist bigot from Illinois? Hell NO. Make no mistake, those voters will be voting in November : Hillary or McCain NEVER OBAMA.
If the DNC with Dean/Pelosi/Kennedy want to "fix" this election they will LOSE BADLY IN NOVEMBER. The American voters will be voting HILLARY or MCCAIN.
Never Obama.
HILLARY IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO CAN WIN THE ELECTION HANDS DOWN. WE THE PEOPLE LOVE HILLARY AND TRUST HILLARY. SHE IS ALL AMERICAN.
GO HILLARY WE ARE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE. GOD BLESS HILLARY AND GOD BLESS AMERICA
FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN DESERVETO BE HEARD11:11PMMay 25th 2008
Millions of people in Florida and Michigan went to the polls to make their voices heard in the Democratic Presidential primary. They deserve to have their votes count.
The DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting on May 31 to make a decision about Florida and Michigan. Send a message to the DNC telling them to count the votes and seat Florida and Michigan's delegates.
LINK TO PETITION:
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/flmidnc/?sc=185
Obamas Blocking of Michigan11:17PMMay 25th 2008
http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/
Is Getting Out The "Uncommitted" Vote—i.e. campaigning to lose—any less of a political campaign than a GOTV effort to win an election?
On October 9, 2007, a spokesperson for Michigan Secretary of State Office said that Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who had already agreed to not campaign in Michigan "because it broke" Democratic National Committee rules by moving its primary date ahead of February 5, 2008, filed paperwork to boycott the ballot.
"Five individuals connected to five different campaigns have confirmed -- but only under condition of anonymity -- that the situation that developed in connection with the Michigan ballot is not at all as it appears on the surface," Lynda Waddington reported in the Iowa Independent, adding that the Obama campaign, "arguably fearing a poor showing in Michigan, reached out to the others with a desire of leaving New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as the only candidate on the ballot. The hope was that such a move would provide one more political obstacle for the Clinton campaign to overcome in Iowa."
On November 21, 2007, the Michigan Supreme Court okayed the January 15, 2008, presidential primary date, after which the DNC stripped Michigan of its delegates for the national convention.
Campaigning to lose: The Denver Post reported January 10, 2008, that Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers, both Obama supporters, produced and aired campaign ads urging voters to cast 'uncommitted' ballots in Michigan's Democratic presidential primary:
Campaigning or not?: On January 14, 2008, the day prior to the Michigan primary, the Detroit News reported
The Obama and Edwards campaigns are urging voters to opt for "uncommitted." ... Sen. Buzz Thomas, D-Detroit, co-chairman of the Obama campaign in Michigan, said there is no organized effort to push the uncommitted vote here.
He said word of mouth and letters to the editor are the main methods of communication he's using to reach Obama supporters. He said he knows of no phone banks set up to coax uncommitted voters to the polls in the last two days.
This raises the question of whether or not Sen. Obama was actually running a political campaign in Michigan through surrogates pressing for an "uncommitted" vote, particularly when it is clear that, contrary to what Michigan Sen. Thomas stated, there was an "organized effort to push the uncommitted vote" in Michigan.
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tfitz101711:59AMMay 22nd 2008
Struggling in good faith, are they? That's nice Mark. I'll tell you what, I'll go ahead and discount the FBI report and Levins assertions and we'll revisit this when we get some real information. That should be coming real soon.